EU Plans “Gender Quota” To Help Break Glass Ceiling

The European Commission wants to make sure more women receive top management positions throughout Europe and to reach that goal the agency is eyeing gender quotas.

Speaking about the glass ceiling breaking agenda EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding notes:

“Self-regulation so far has not brought about satisfactory results” for women.

One year ago Viviane asked European companies to sign a pledge guaranteeing the appointment of more women to boardrooms but the pledge was only signed by 24 firms.

Europe currently has a large slender slant with just 13.7% of women serving on the board of Europe’s top firms (1 in 7 board members).

While that number is low it’s still higher than the 11.8% ceiling in 2010. At the current level of increase lawmakers say it would take 40 years to achieve a “significant gender balance” without government intervention.

In revealing her plan for quota requirements Ms. Reding said:

“I am not a great fan of quotas. However, I like the results they bring … I believe it is high time that Europe breaks the glass ceiling that continues to bar female talent from getting to the top in Europe’s listed companies. I will work closely with the European Parliament and all member states to bring about change.”

Gender quotas have already been introduced in Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain with more countries expected to follow.

Are you a fan of affirmative action and gender quota based initiatives that in some cases can force someone who is better suited for certain positions to lose out on a job because of government imposed restrictions?